LCR vs VTI
Leuthold Core ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, LCR or VTI?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 65.1%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | LCR | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.83% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $66M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.30% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 68 | 3,524 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.1%Best | 18.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.4%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,558 | $19,010Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 65.1% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Leuthold Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 3, 2020 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 635 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. LCR has data through Jan 17, 2025 and VTI through Oct 14, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 6, 2020 to Jan 17, 2025 (5 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% compared with 10.1% for LCR. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -17.4% for LCR and -35.0% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LCR charges 0.83% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $83 vs $3 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LCR currently yields 1.30% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 33 holdings in LCR and 3,441 in VTI, totalling 95.5% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in LCR and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 68 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,156 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for LCR (97.6% of the fund), and 33 for LCR that do not appear in VTI (95.5%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LCR and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, LCR or VTI?
LCR has an expense ratio of 0.83% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, LCR or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 10.1% for LCR. Worst drawdown: LCR -17.4% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both LCR and VTI?
LCR and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, LCR or VTI?
LCR yields 1.30% while VTI yields 1.06%, so LCR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than LCR?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 65.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.